Driving abroad

Where do I need an international licence

You are still required to produce your own licence for inspection when hiring a vehicle overseas; an International Driving permit (IDP) should be seen as a translation of your licence and not a replacement.

All countries in the EU benefit from a 'mutual recognition' agreement in respect of driving licences.

Under the agreement, Irish driving licence holders can drive in any EU country on their existing Irish driving licence so long as it's current and valid.

An Irish licence holder must be age 18 with a full licence to drive in most EU Countries. The following countries (Austria, Hungary and United Kingdom) allow a full licence holder to drive at the age of 17.

Other Countries

When driving in non-EU or EEA countries, an international driving permit (IDP) is required. This is recognised internationally and allows you to drive in most but not all countries across the world

An IDP is available to Irish residents with a current full Irish driving licence. The permit is valid for one year from date of issue or to the expiry date of the licence if less than a year.

There are two types of IDP:

1949 UN Convention IDP. More common type; recognised in most countries

How to get an International Driver Permit

If you require both types of permit, please send two photographs, two completed applications and double the fee to €30.

Apply to:

AA Travel Services, 61A South William Street, Dublin 2

Who is ineligible?

You cannot be issued with an IDP in Ireland if:

You have a learner permit (provisional driving licence)

Where can I use my IDP?

You can use your permit in any of the countries that have signed the 1926 or 1949 UN Convention on road traffic. In addition, many other countries that are not signatories to the 1949 convention recognise the IDP and accept it in their territory.

A list of countries that recognise IDPs is available online but you should contact your embassy or consulate in advance of travel to confirm whether or not an IDP is recognised by the country you will be visiting.

Note: even when you hold an IDP, you should always carry your own driving licence when travelling abroad, as you may be required to produce this licence for inspection, for example, when hiring a car abroad.

Letter of Entitlement/ Driver statement

A letter of entitlement or driver statement refers to a copy of a driver record with details of name, address, date of birth, driver number, date of expiry of licence and class of licence to include details of what that class refers to;

A Letter of entitlement is required by NDLS when

The foreign licence presented in NDLS is expired

The foreign licence is lost, stolen or damaged.

One or more categories on the foreign licence does not have a start date.

A letter of entitlement must be an original. A faxed, scanned or email copy is not acceptable. It can take customer some time to receive original documents which can delay applications

How to obtain a Driver Statement/ Letter of entitlement

The individual themselves can request a drivers statement (letter of entitlement) to be sent out to them by phoning 0761087880 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Information regarding a driver will not be sent to a third party.

Irish Licence Holders taking up residence abroad

A Learner Permit is not valid to drive or exchange in Northern Ireland or any other country outside of Ireland.

Where an Irish licence holder takes up residence in another EU country or the European Economic Area (EEA) – Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland they can drive on their existing Irish driving licence so long as it's current and valid. They can also exchange their current licence at any time it that country and within 10 years of its expiry.

Irish licence holders taking up residence in any of the following countries; Australia, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Japan, Jersey, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Ontario in Canada *New Zealand and *Taiwan may exchange their current full driving licence in that country and within 1 year of its expiry.

*Note; Motorcycle and Car are the only categories recognised for exchange of Irish licences with New Zealand and Taiwan.

Where an Irish licence holder exchanges their licence for a New Zealand licence and they have held their driving licence for less than 2 years, then they will have to do the stage 2 test in New Zealand.

The various States in Australia generally recognise Irish driving licences in respect of a car or motorcycle entitlement for exchange to their licence for a car or motorcycle.Truck or bus licences are not exchanged.

Ontario, Canada

An agreement to allow for mutual exchange of driving licences between Ireland and Ontario has been agreed and is now in place. This exchange agreement will allow Irish Licence holders to exchange their car driving licence for a category G or G1 as appropriate in Ontario. Ontario licence holders can exchange a G or G1 driving licence for the category B (car) restricted to automatic transmission.

Manitoba, Canada

An agreement to allow for mutual exchange of driving licences between Ireland and Manitoba has been agreed and is now in place. This exchange agreement will also allow Irish Licence holders to exchange their Motorcycle categories A, A1 or A2 for Class 6 F licence. Manitoba licence holders can exchange a Class 6, stage I and F driving licence for the category A1 (small motorcycle).

Newfoundland and Labrador Province of Canada

Holders of Irish driving licences can exchange their licences in Newfoundland and Labrador for the following categories:

Category on Irish Licence

Category to be given Licence Newfoundland & Labrador

B, W

Class 5

B, W

Class 5 Level II

A1, AM

Class 6

A1, AM

Class 6 level II

Contacts are ongoing with other Canadian provinces to finalise similar arrangement